History of AMATS

The 1962 Federal Aid Highway Act created metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in keeping with the requirement that urban areas have a defined planning process to receive federal aid for transportation programs and projects. Read More

Our Region

The Akron metropolitan area includes Summit and Portage counties and a portion of Wayne County. Currently, the region has over 700,000 people residing in the area. Akron is the central city accounting for almost one- third of the region’s population. The area has a large and comprehensive transportation system that is anchored by several major freeways and two major rail lines. Two public transit agencies, METRO in Summit County and PARTA in Portage County, provide bus transportation. There are 24 miles of bike lanes and 12 miles of mountain biking in the area as well. With the recent completion of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail through Summit County, the area has over 100 miles of off-road trails completed. In a larger context, AMATS partners with the metropolitan planning organizations in Northeast Ohio, NOACA and Eastgate, to ensure comprehensive transportation planning. View the AMATS Coverage Area

Our Staff

AMATS receives funding from three federal programs and uses these funds to help communities pay for road maintenance, safety improvements, congestion relief and bike and pedestrian infrastructure. The AMATS staff is responsible for carrying out the technical work of the agency and is comprised primarily of individuals from planning and engineering disciplines. The staff develops the Regional Transportation Plan (Plan), the Transportation Improvement Program (Tip), as well as a wide variety of other reports and recommendations for the consideration of the Policy Committee. View Our Staff Directory FY 2019 Work Program Employment Opportunities

Goals & Accomplishments

2018 Accomplishments:

AMATS began work on the new long range planning document Transportation Outlook 2045. AMATS completed draft community population growth rates and began updating its model variables for the 2010 base year and 2045 horizon year.

AMATS maintained the new FY 2018 through FY 2021 Transportation Improvement Program on the AMATS website in a searchable format. The TIP includes all projects using federal funds for the next four years.

AMATS helped organize and promote efforts of 18 walk leaders for the Jane’s Walk weekend in May 2018.

AMATS collected traffic data with its traffic counting program and bicycle and pedestrian counting program. More than 350 roadway counts were completed in 2018.

AMATS continued work on the three remaining Connecting Communities planning grants that were awarded in 2016. The City of Twinsburg planning grant was completed in August 2018. The remaining two planning grants, The City of Kent and the City of Green, are expected to be finalized in early 2019.

AMATS continued to maintain the new Gohio Commute website through a partnership established in 2017 with several mpos across the state.

AMATS, working with the Knight Foundation, completed The Trailblazers Guide to Akron map.

AMATS completed the new Traffic Crashes report looking at crashes from 2015 – 2017. It included analysis of automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian crashes.

AMATS completed the Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan in coordination with the area transit agencies and social and human services agencies.

AMATS continues to work with ODOT to establish federal performance measures for congestion, preservation, transit, and freight.

2019 Goals:

AMATS will administer a new round of funding, making available over $20 million of funding for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

AMATS will oversee the Ohio Statewide CMAQ program, providing roughly $12 million over 2 years.

AMATS will continue to collect traffic data this summer with its traffic counting program and bicycle counting program. Over 300 roadway locations are expected to be counted.

AMATS will begin a new round of funding for the Connecting Communities Planning Grants with the intention of awarding two grants in the fall of 2019.

AMATS will continue to maintain the Gohio Commute website in conjunction with several mpos across the state to encourage carpooling and other alternative modes of transportation.

AMATS will complete a new Traffic Crashes Report looking at crashes from 2016-2018. The report will include analyses of automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian crashes.

AMATS will participate in the Jane’s Walk event in May by organizing walk leaders to lead informative neighborhood walks that focus on the importance of place.

AMATS will coordinate with its member communities on Bike-N-Brainstorm events, as well as continue to expand public involvement through its use of podcasts and other online tools.

AMATS will continue to work with ODOT on established performance measures for congestion, preservation, transit, and freight.

Committees

Policy Committee

The AMATS Policy Committee is responsible for directing the transportation planning process in the region. The Policy Committee is comprised of elected representatives of municipalities, counties, two regional transit authorities, and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).

Bobbie Beshara, Mayor of the Village of Richfield, 2019 Chair

Technical Advisory Committee

The Technical Advisory Committee is composed of planners and engineers who are charged with assisting the Policy Committee in the planning process. The committee reviews Policy Committee materials and provides comments to the staff.

Joe Stefan, City of Barberton 2019 Technical Advisory Committee Chair

Citizens Involvement Committee

The AMATS Citizens Involvement Committee (CIC) is the forum that gives the public voice regarding transportation issues and concerns. The CIC relays public comments regarding transportation issues to the Policy Committee for their consideration.

The CIC receives comments from all members of the public and anyone is welcome to attend.